Enhancement Made in Consultation with Local Community
Supplements Existing Measures Within and Beyond Battery Park City
The Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) today announced installation of life ring cabinets along the Battery Park City Esplanade, a result of consultation with the local community about adding these potentially life-saving measures to an iconic and popular public space. The durable, weatherproof red and white cabinets, each including a 24-inch water rescue life preserver and rope, are being affixed to the Esplanade railing at seven locations along the waterfront and will be regularly inspected by BPC Parks personnel, as well as by Allied Universal Ambassadors during their 24×7 neighborhood patrols. These installations join the life rings installed on all docks in Battery Park City’s North Cove Marina, at the Port Authority Ferry Terminal just north of the Marina, and those available along the length of Hudson River Park to north of Battery Park City. BPCA may install life rings at additional locations throughout the neighborhood as needed.
“The community asked, and we answered,” said BPCA President & Chief Operating Officer B.J. Jones. “Accidents and emergencies happen, and while we urge people to always take care along the Esplanade, as a waterfront community we’ll always look to implement common-sense precautions aimed at keeping the public safe.”
Installation of life rings comes as a result of discussions with the local community about the feasibility of installation. In October 2017, Manhattan Community Board 1’s Battery Park City Committee hosted a discussion on the merits of the proposal, with the topic raised again during BPCA’s Open Community Meeting last November.
“The BPCA got two very important things right with this decision,” said BPC resident Justine Cuccia. “The first is the outcome itself: Placing life rings on the Esplanade is a low-cost, low-risk way to save lives. The second win is how they came to this decision – through discussion, collaboration, and partnership with the community. This is a model for how the relationship between the BPCA and BPC residents should always work.”
As part of the rollout, BPCA has installed the first two cabinets in the southern end of Battery Park City – at the end of Pier A and at the nose of Wagner Park.
Over the coming weeks, as weather permits, five additional water rescue life ring cabinets will be affixed to the following north-to-south locations:
– North Esplanade behind Stuyvesant High School
– Rockefeller Esplanade by the Ulysses statue
– Rockefeller Esplanade by the pool tables
– Esplanade at Rector Gate
– Wagner Esplanade behind the Museum of Jewish Heritage
A map of these locations can be found here.
BPCA reminds residents and visitors to always dial 911 in emergency situations. For quality-of-life related issues across Battery Park City’s parks and public spaces, Allied Universal Ambassador Services may be reached around the clock at (212) 945-SAFE/7233, by email at bpcallied@bpca.ny.gov, or in-person at the Allied Universal Command Center (211 North End Avenue).
Concluded BPCA President & COO Jones: “We always aim to be an agent of community well-being, and an integral part of that is listening to our residents’ concerns and making improvements where we can. I thank our partners on CB1’s BPC Committee and across the community at large for the great suggestion!”
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